Vancouver Island Yoga School, formerly Harmony Yoga and Wellness Center, was founded on the Pillars of classical Ashtanga Yoga.
The second Pillar rooted in our evolution is Yin yoga and the grounding and mindfulness yogas.
The tradition of Ashtanga Yoga is found in the ritual of early morning practice. There are 6 set series, from a Primary series through an Intermediate and Advanced series.New students learn the foundations of Sun Salutations and standing postures, gradually mastering them before moving on to more complex postures. Breath awareness and focused attention are the key components that support the postures. Students learn discipline and patience and can take their daily practice with them.
Through consistent practice, students gain strength, mobility and flexibility, deeper breathing and a calm and peaceful mind. Daily practice of breath work, meditation and postures is likened to cleaning and purifying the body and mind, which increases longevity and quality of life.
The Yin and slow-moving classes complement the more dynamic classes with attention to body sensations and nervous system regulation. You will feel calmer and sleep better.
Research on health tells us that changing our lifestyle and the foods we consume empowers us to create health and well-being every day. Good sleep, healthy digestion and eating whole, nourishing foods, coupled with yoga, meditation, and walks in nature give us the perfect medicine for a busy, stressful life. Start your healthy new habits today!
On Saturday, May 25th all classes are being offered by a donation to Yoga Gives Back. Yoga Gives Back mission is to empower India’s women and children, creating sustainable lives and vibrant communities. Help us to reach our goal of raising $1008 to provide 40 mothers in India with microloans.
Starting Monday April 8th @ 12:30-1:30 pm Have you or a friend been waiting to start yoga but thought it was not for you?
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We are offering this 4-week Registered workshop to get you started. Limited 10 students to allow for lots of individual attention.
Tuesdays: May 7th – 21st and June 4th @ 2:00- 3:00 pm (no class May 28)
Are you looking for an accessible way to start Yoga?
Experience the gentle beginners chair yoga in a safe supported 4 week class. Teacher Gina brings a gentle, yet knowldegable approach to teaching postures – all done with the support of a chair –
Saturday, May 25that 6pm-7:45pm at VI Yoga School. Join us each month for Kirtan together! No experience or instruments are needed. Our Kirtan is chanting with music in a call and response style – It’s uplifting, joyful, meditative, and grounding. Bring your open heart and join in the community! All proceeds go to a local charity. All are welcome.
Experience the gentle practice of restorative yoga and release tension and stress. Receive the ancient balancing of Reiki during the workshop. You will leave feeling balanced and restored. Sunday, May 26th @ 1:45pm – 3:45pm
Vancouver Island Yoga School emerges from the landscape of Duncan’s 10-year-old Harmony Yoga and Wellness Center. VIYS is a natural evolution inspired by its founder’s desire to create a spiritual center for the study of Yoga and its sister science Ayurveda. In the last ten years, we have delivered yoga teacher training, workshops, intensives, and retreats to India. With VIYS, we redefine ourselves and create a new mission and purpose for the next ten years.
Our mission is to offer a deeper dive into the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda. Our vision is to share our collective knowledge with you and provide a spiritual sanctuary where you can meditate, join a wellness program, and practice yoga. Our purpose is to create and sustain a healthy community to promote personal and spiritual growth.
Many people have experienced increased anxiety and depression over the last two years through isolation and disengagement from society. Our programming will respond to heal the collective trauma we have experienced.
In its truest sense, Yoga is Union with the Divine. The word Yoga has several meanings, such as “union,” “path,” or a type of concentration called Samadhi. Samadhi means absorption and, when directed toward spirituality, the mind stills and leads to insight into the nature of reality, unseen by a mind trapped in discursive thoughts.
About 2000 years ago, the great sage Patanjali collected the existing teachings on Yoga and systemized them into the Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras became a road map to higher consciousness. This map is at the base of our teachings. The ancient teachings are as relevant today as they were in ancient India.
Amidst struggle and suffering, human beings look to wisdom teachers, schools, and temples to find sanctuary and spiritual growth. At VIYS, our goal is to provide you the space to commit to strength, wellness, wholeness, and community.
